Down On Geese

Eggs, beer bottles and paintball bullets. Just what do these seemingly unrelated items have in common?

Since my “dedicated followers of fashion” geese have been perching at the end of my driveway, each of the objects above have at one time or another been hurled at my poor, defenseless geese.

Luckily, most of the eggs, beer bottles and paintball bullets have missed my fine, feathered friends, shattering and splattering harmlessly on the driveway, simply creating a few hours of cleanup.

But, it doesn’t seem like the war is over. I’ve noticed recently that a new aerial assault has being launched — an all-out barrage of still-smoldering cigarette butts are now being flung out of passing cars at my peace-loving, water birds.

You’ll now find me out, after every morning jog, picking up bucketfuls of Marlboro, Winston and Camel butts from my driveway and decorative rocks.

Please, smokers, have pity on my friendly geese! They mean you no harm! If you must do something with your butt as you drive by, shoot the geese a moon! They just might get a charge out of that.

Now, let’s turn our attention to this week’s music trivia question: Can you name the doo-wop group that recorded the 1957 song, “Friendly Moon?”

This interracial group was formed at the Air Force Serviceman’s Club in 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1957, their song, “Come Go With Me,” featuring lead singer Norman Wright, peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s pop chart. The song was later inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

The group had many personnel changes during their short, but successful recording years. It scored two other top 20 hits in 1957 with “Whispering Bells,” featuring Kripp Johnson and “Cool Shake,” featuring Gus Backus.

Is this group, who left behind one of the most satisfying bodies of R&B and doo-wop music this side of the Drifters, A) The Marcels, B) The Del Vikings, The Cleftones or D) The J. Powers Band?

Be caller number four with the right answer and you’ll win a $25 gift certificate from Verizon Wireless, located in the Safeway Shopping Plaza, courtesy of Adam Jonus, store manager.

At Verizon, you can check out the latest phones and accessories and get a great deal on a new line.

Now, let’s see how we did with last week’s music trivia question, which was: Can you complete the name of Waylon Jennings’ 1978 popular duet with Willie Nelson, “Mamma Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be ...”

Is the last word of this chart-topping country hit A) Outlaws, B) Cowboys, C) Wranglers or D) Lawyers?

The correct answer was “Cowboys.”

Congratulations to last week’s music trivia winner, Keith Bastian, who won a Best of Waylon Jennings CD, which includes all 16 of Waylon’s No. 1 country hits.

A little about this week’s winner: Keith grew up and lived the first 43 years of his life in Park Forrest, Illinois (about 30 minutes from my old stomping ground). He spent most of his life working in the auto industry.

About his partner, Ellie, Keith said, “We were next door neighbors for many years. Then after Ellen’s husband died, we just sort of got together.”

Keith and Ellen’s first date was to Great America Amusement Park in Gurnee. “That ride on the American Eagle roller coaster was something else,” Keith said. The couple have been together for the past 18 years.

After finally tiring of the long, severe winters in the Midwest, Keith and Ellen decided a move to Arizona was long overdue. They visited both Prescott and Payson and determined that Prescott was just too big for them. Keith beamed, “We couldn’t be any happier than we are living right here in Payson.”

Now retired, Keith enjoys fly-fishing, model trains and traveling. During the Christmas season, he rings the bells for the Salvation Army.

Classic rock and jazz are Keith’s music of choice. David Lee Roth, Robert Plant and Eddie Money top his favorite artist list.

Lastly, pictures I have added to my Web site are from A.J. Carlson and Brittney Groulx’s wedding last Saturday at Kohl’s Ranch. The young couple reside near Heber, but have many friends in the Payson area.